Care aide gets probation, restitution for defrauding state

A former personal care assistant pleaded guilty yesterday and was sentenced for defrauding MassHealth of more than $33,600 for services she did not provide.

Ann M. Hudson, 69, formerly of Worcester, pleaded guilty in Central District Court to 12 counts of Medicaid false claims and 12 counts of larceny of property worth more than $250.

Ms. Hudson fraudulently billed MassHealth a dozen times for personal care attendant services, while the member was actually receiving inpatient care in hospitals and nursing homes.

Judge Andrew M. D’Angelo sentenced Ms. Hudson to three years of probation, with conditions that she pay restitution and not work in any environment involving the care of elders or juveniles.

Ms. Hudson billed MassHealth for personal care attendant services for a MassHealth member 12 times when the patient was admitted in a hospital or a nursing home, including during a period when Ms. Hudson vacationed in Florida in 2006 and 2007.

MassHealth is a public health insurance program for low- to medium-income residents of Massachusetts. The national health insurance program called Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program are combined in one program in Massachusetts called MassHealth.

In addition, Ms. Hudson falsely billed MassHealth for services after Worcester Elder Services, along with Worcester police, had the MassHealth member removed from the home Ms. Hudson shared with him.

Ms. Hudson kept the money received as payment for the falsely billed services. Her violations of state law and Medicaid rules and regulations resulted in MassHealth payments of more than $33,600, which she must now repay in restitution as a result of her sentencing.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kriss Basil of Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Medicaid Fraud Division, with assistance from MFD investigator Gregoire Ucuz and investigators from the state auditor’s Bureau of Special Investigations and the Boston office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.